In a move that has stirred both celebration and controversy, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has officially ordered that  Fort Liberty be renamed Fort Roland L. Bragg.

The installation will now be known as Fort Roland L. Bragg, honoring a World War II veteran who received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. The base was originally named in 1918 for Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, known for owning slaves and losing significant Civil War battles.

According to Pentagon officials, the decision was reached while Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was traveling from Joint Base Andrews to Stuttgart, Germany. Pfc. Roland L. Bragg was awarded medals for “exceptional courage” during the Battle of the Bulge, the news release said.

“This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation,” stated Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot in the release.

The U.S. Army officially renamed Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty in June 2023, as part of a Department of Defense effort to rename military bases named after Confederate figures, prompted by the 2020 George Floyd protests. Approximately 80 highway signs across North Carolina still bore the old name. The 2023 renaming from Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty reportedly cost around $6.37 million.